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■ Champ Michael aiming for the top! by Adrian Capstick
CLITHEROE martial arts expert Michael Bisping gave up every thing last summer to realise his dream of becoming the Ultimate Fighter.
And the 25-year-old ex-uphol-
sterer has not been disappointed, as his quest to turn professional has brought great success. Bisping recently won the
national super heavyweight kick boxing title at the British WAKO Championships, beating the previ ous title holder in just three rounds.
His opponent in the final was 18
stone, a full three and half stone heavier, and according to Bisping,
“it didn’t half hurt when he hit me!” This is part of his comeback
WAKO Super Heavyweight Kick Boxing Champion Michael Bisping. B0HM04/3
PHOTO: Ben Parsons
after four years away, after win ning a string of titles as a junior, including, at the age of 16, win ning silver at the men’s world championships.
But this trophy and medal win
is just a small part of the Clitheroe fighter’s training regime, adding kudos in preparation for his step into the world of ultimate fighting - an American creation that is starting to gain notoriety in Britain. And Bisping wants to develop
this new avenue as much as he can. He said: “It is my aim to reach the top of the English market, but at the moment there is only a minor ity who compete in this country. “In America, Japan and Brazil
it has really taken off, which is why I aim to take in some tours in the States, and if all goes well, I would like to compete in the Ulti mate Fighting Championship.” At present the British kick box
ing champion divides his time between his young family in Low
Moor and training in Notting ham. He spends Sunday to Wednes
day in the Midlands training three times a day with his coach Paul
Davis, covering a variety of differ ent martial arts encompassing Brazilian ju-jitsu, kick boxing, wrestling and Thai boxing. “I ’d describe the style as taking
out all the best bits from various different disciplines and applying them to real fighting situations,”
• said Bisping. “I t ’s all about using whatever
means necessary to overcome your opponent, and involves a lot of grappling.” His debut is on Saturday in
. Newcastle at the Pride and Glory II Ultimate Fighting event. His opponent in the heavy
weight cage fight is Steve Math ews from Catterick Garrison Army Base, who lost his last bout. There are 15 fights on the night
featuring competitors from around the world, with a full scale Ameri- can-style wrestling pyrotechnics show on offer. If anyone is interested in sup
porting the local fighter, there will be a coach leaving Clitheroe on
Saturday, and tickets for the gxl evening are priced at £25.
v 'l Michael is also on the look out
for local sponsors who would be willing to support his bid for suc cess. For further details regarding the night in Newcastle, or possible sponsorship, please contact Michael Bisping on (07743 707845).
However, in addition to the
hours of training he is presently putting in, Michael and his trainer are starting a new martial arts class in Clitheroe this month. The club will teach mixed mar
tial arts skills and will run two classes on a Thursday evening, one for 10-year-olds to 16-year-olds, and another for adults. Both classes are aimed at indi
viduals who want to learn self defence, or are just simply looking to keep fit.
This will be the sixth centre that
Paul Davis and his Fighting Co company have established and run throughout the country.
Sculpher anticipates crunch Easter weekend in title fight
Blues Eye View
AFTER three weekends without a match, Clitheroe return to Saturday action as they make the trip to Con gleton Town.
. : Victory will be crucial to the Blues as they now find themselves with
games in hand over their nearest rivals.
; .. Woodley Sports’ excellent 4-2 Vic to'ry oyer Mossley last Saturday keeps the race for the title a three-
■ horse race, which could easily go right to the wire.
. Woodley have a tricky away fixture
at Warrington on Saturday, while Mosslcy travel to Salford City. ' ' .7 .;':
Saturday’s victory over Mossley
was the last home game of the sea son for .Woodley. They now play all their remaining fixtures away from; Lambeth Grove, which could have a bearing on their final results. Easter Monday also s e e s the
Blues on the road when they travel to t Curzon Ashton (3 p.m.).
- - -Hopefully the fans will unite-
behind the team over, the final few weeks of the season, and it would be good to see a healthy travelling sup-; port for these next two away games. The club are in an excellent posi- ..
tion to win the league title and the role of the supporters will be a big factor in the final outcome.
f t
nr-Let’s make snre.we lend our sup-7 port from the terraces, and hopefully help Lee Sculpher. and the team over- the finishing line as champions.
Andy Alston by Adrian Capstick
THIS weekend could make or break Clitheroe's title challenge, and man
ager Lee Sculpher knows it.
With just a handful of
games remaining, the busi ness end of the season largely hangs on the out come of Easter’s games against Congleton Town and Curzon Ashton. Mossley also beat
Atherton Collieries 6-2 on Tuesday night, and are three points clear of Clitheroe, who are present- ly-third, while Woodley Sports also played last night. So the Blues boss can ill
afford his side to crack under the pressure. He said: “It’s a six-game
season from now on, and the incentive is there for the team to win those games. “Easter is a tough peri
od with two games in three days, and with Mossley and Woodley Sports also playing, it's going to be a survival of the fittest.” However, Tuesday
night’s postponement at Nantwich Town is not helping Clitheroe’s cause.
atifd
"I " iiiSi?
LE ESCU LPHER
and in Sculpher’s opinion it was a poor decision. He said: “I was very dis
appointed with the offi cial’s reason for calling off Tuesday’s game as the pitch was drying out. “Both sides wanted to
play, but the referee wouldn’t wait 15 minutes to see if i t would be playable at 8 o’clock. “I wouldn’t have mind
ed so much, but we had actually warmed up and prepared for the game on the pitch, and we could see it drying out in front of us. “And by the time we had
left the ground, there was no surface water to speak of at all.” He added: “I t ’s hap pened to us twice now this
LEECRVER
season, as at Ramsbottom back in December, the game was playable. “When you’ve travelled
a long way to play, 15 min utes is not a lot to ask.” Looking ahead though
to the start of the Blues’ Easter crusade, the man ager is ready to commence battle and hopefully see some regular action rather than the fits and starts of recent weeks. “I t will be good to get
going again against Con gleton on Saturday as we were ready and raring to go on Tuesday,” said Sculpher. “They’ve had good runs
in the FA Vase and cup competitions this season, and will probably be dis
appointed th a t their league form has suffered of late.”
He added: “They are a
side that would usually be pushing for promotion themselves, so it’s always a difficult place to go. “It won’t be easy, but we
need to pick up points.” Then on Easter Mon
day, the locals are away again to Curzon, a team the Blues beat 3-1 at Shawbridge ju s t over a month ago, and Sculpher knows three points at the National Park will be no easy task either.
He said: “Curzon’s away
form hasn’t been great this season, but it is a very dif ficult place to go as their home form is very good. “It is almost guaranteed
to be alow-scoring game.” Sculpher is waiting on
the fitness of '18-goal top- scorer Lee Cryer, and said: “Our only doubt for the weekend is Lee Cryer, who
has been suffering with flu and wouldn’t have played
on Tuesday if the game had gone ahead.
“Hopefully though he’ll
be back with us for Satur day, but apart from that,
everyone else is available.” 4 * 4 m
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